[UPDATED:] Fate of the OC Fairgrounds Stalled Until January 2011

​Update, December 22, 2:15 p.m.: The non-money grubbing side won in the matter of the OC Fairgrounds. Sort of. Yesterday the Fourth District Appellate Court agreed to hear the case, which will prevent the sale of the property until at least Jan. 10, 2011.

Why is this a victory? By that time the new administration will be in place in Sacramento, meaning Jerry Brown--we apologize, we know former NBA coach Larry Brown isn't our soon-to-be governor--will be a part of the ultimate decision making process, and he, unlike his Austrian-born predecessor, doesn't support the sale.

Original Post, December 15, 3:41 p.m.: ​A pair of lawsuits go before OC judges today concerning the future ownership and the legality of the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds.

Lawyers representing Jeffrey Teller, owner of the OC Swap Meet, are hoping to stop or delay the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds to Facilities Management West, the group that originally purchased the land in October for $100 million. If the sale can be delayed until Jerry Brown takes office as governor, Teller's business could be saved. Otherwise, he'll have to hope FMW still has use for him.

Earlier in the morning, a similar but separate lawsuit claiming the sale illegal will go before a judge. The lawsuit was filed by the Orange County Preservation Society against the California Department of General Services. Co-plaintiffs include Senator Lou Correa, Assemblyman Jose Solorio and Costa Mesa Council Member Katrina Foley. The lawsuit also hopes to stop or delay the sale of the Fairgrounds to FWM.

Solorio released the following statement: "After following this issue for over a year and continually fighting to keep the Orange County Fairgrounds under public ownership, I could not sit by and watch the Governor, in his rush before leaving office, sell this important asset when there are too many unanswered questions."

We will post updates on developments of the lawsuits as information becomes available.